Founder Profile

Pew is an independent nonprofit organization – the sole beneficiary of seven individual trusts established between 1948 and 1979 by four generous and committed siblings. Learn more about one of our founders: Mary Ethel Pew.

Project

Flood-Prepared Communities

Floods and hurricanes can threaten human lives and cause significant economic and physical damage to communities, including homes, businesses, and infrastructure. From 2000 to 2017, flood-related disasters in the U.S. accounted for more than $750 billion in losses, making it the costliest and most frequent disaster threat in the nation.

U.S. Infrastructure Must Be Flood-Ready, State and Local Officials Say

Coastal counties are home to 39 percent of the nation&rsquo;s population and are at risk for floods and hurricanes, the fastest-growing and costliest disaster threats in the U.S. In Part 2 of &ldquo;The Financial Toll of Flooding,&rdquo; learn more about what happens after flooding occurs, as Pew&rsquo;s Fred Baldassaro travels to Norfolk, Virginia, to speak with Skip Stiles, founder and executive director of Wetlands Watch. Listen as they tour neighborhoods in the flood plain and discuss sea level rise, the recovery process, and how this coastal city is building resilience against future flooding through innovative solutions. To listen to the first episode, visit &ldquo;The Financial Toll of Flooding&mdash;Part 1."

The flood-prepared communities project helps communities reduce the effects of weather-related catastrophes on the U.S. economy and environment through national policy reform. The project promotes the adoption of key changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Flood events are becoming more intense across the United States, affecting the physical and economic stability of communities and threatening human lives and delicate ecosystems. Every part of the country is vulnerable to losses from increased flooding; in the past five years, all 50 states have experienced flood events. Federal, state, and local entities share the responsibility for weather-related disaster preparedness and response. This series of fact sheets examines the flood risks, mitigation efforts, and associated costs for states.